Jollyville Plateau salamander

The Jollyville Plateau salamander (Eurycea tonkawae) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is also known as the Tonkawa Springs salamander.[1] It is endemic to Travis and Williamson counties, Texas, United States. This species is perrenibranchiate, retaining its gills throughout life.

Jollyville Plateau salamander
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Plethodontidae
Genus: Eurycea
Species:
E. tonkawae
Binomial name
Eurycea tonkawae
Chippindale, Price, Wiens & Hillis, 2000

Eurycea tonkawae is the sister taxon to E. naufragia and E. chisholmensis, two other endemic perrenibranchiate central Texas salamanders.

Its natural habitats are freshwater springs, spring runs, and wet caves of the Buttercup karst system. Cave dwelling E. tonkawae may represent a distinct species, however further work is needed to clarify their taxonomic status.

Conservation status

Eurycea tonkawae is threatened by habitat loss and habitat degradation due to rapid urban growth. In August, 2013, this species was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.[2]

Notes
  1. Jessica Miller. "Eurycea tonkawae (Chippindale, Price, Wiens, & Hillis, 2000) Tonkawa Springs Salamander". Amphibiainfo.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  2. "Federal Register Vol. 78 No. 161 Pp 51278-51326" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2013-08-20.

References
  • Chippindale, P.T., A.H. Price, & Hillis, D.M. (1993): A new species of perennibranchiate salamander (Eurycea, Plethodontidae) from Austin, Texas. Herpetologica 49: 242–259.
  • Chippindale, P.T., A.H. Price, Wiens, J.J. & Hillis, D.M. (2000): Phylogenetic relationships of central Texas hemidactyliine plethodontid salamanders, genus Eurycea, and a taxonomic revision of the group. Herpetological Monographs 14: 1-80.
  • Hillis, D.M., Chamberlain, D.A., Wilcox, T.P., & Chippindale, P.T. (2001): A new species of subterranean blind salamander (Plethodontidae: Hemidactyliini: Eurycea: Typhlomolge) from Austin, Texas, and a systematic revision of central Texas paedomorphic salamanders. Herpetologica 57: 266–280.
  • Hammerson, G. & Chippindale, P. 2004. Eurycea tonkawae. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 July 2007.


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